The package contained two mobile phones, five SIM cards and a drug known as ‘Spice’.

They appeared at St Albans Crown Court on February 16 for sentencing.

Mohammed Sadiq was jailed for six-and-a-half months, Saeema Sadiq to seven-and-a-quarter months suspended for 18 months and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, and Staniford to six-and-a-half months suspended for 18 months and told to complete 150 hours of unpaid work.

The court heard that Mohammed Sadiq, who was a prisoner at The Mount, had conspired with his sister Saeema and Staniford to get the banned items.

Staniford was arrested close to the prison on September 18, 2014. He had approached the prison boundary and when challenged by officers he had discarded a package, which contained the prohibited items.

The investigation revealed that Mohammed had asked his sister Saeema to get Staniford to buy the SIM cards and then drive him to the prison on the day he was arrested.

Detective Inspector Ian Butler, from Serious and Organised Crime, said: “I hope this sends out a strong message to anyone thinking about doing anything similar, that prison officers and the police will do everything in their power to bring offenders to justice.”